Modals in the Modals in the pastpast

Lida Middle SchoolLida Middle School

Xu WenjunXu Wenjun

Did a lot of people know about Van Gogh before he died?

→Few people _________________ of Van Gogh before he died.

Did Van Gogh have a lot of money in his lifetime?

→Van Gogh ______________________ a lot of money in his lifetime.

→Van Gogh ______________________ a little money in his lifetime.

may have heard

couldn’t have had

could have had

Where did Van Gogh work at first?

Did he like his job?

→Van Gogh ______________________ it, because he left.must have disliked

Few people may have heard of Van Gogh before he died. Van Gogh could not have had a lot of money in

his lifetime. Van Gogh could have had a little money in his lifetime. Van Gogh must have disliked it, because he left.

* Modal verbs + have + past participle

Conclusion I: Structure

We can use have + past participle after modal verbs to talk about things in the past.我们可以用情态动词加上动词的完成式来表示对过去发生的动作或状态的推测。

1.To talk about something that we think certainly happened, we can use must + have + past participle. 当表示过去肯定发生过的事情时，我们可以用must + have + past participle。

Liu Xiang __________ (be)

excited, for he __________ (win)

the 110 metres hurdles in Osaka in

Japan for the fifth time.

Conclusion II:

must have been

won

The fact proves that Chinese

mountaineers _____________

(fail) to carry the Olympic

torch to Mt. Qomolangma.

can’t/couldn’t have failed

2.To talk about something that was impossible, we can use cannot/could not + have + past participle. 当表示过去不可能发生的事情时，我们可以用 cannot/could not + have + past participle。

1. Gloria has won every game she's played today. She ____________ (practice) a lot.

Complete the sentences with Complete the sentences with must must havehave or or can’t havecan’t have. .

must have practisedmust have practised

2. A: James was at the party last night. B: He ____________ (be)! He’s in China.

can’t have can’t have beenbeen

4. Janet ____________ (ring) you last night. Her phone isn't working.

Complete the sentences with Complete the sentences with must must havehave or or can’t havecan’t have. .

can’t have can’t have rungrung

3. Anna wasn’t at work today. She ____________ (have) the day off.

must have must have hadhad

3.To talk about something that was possibly true, we can use may/might/could + have + past participle. 当表示过去可能发生的事情时，我们可以用may/might/could + have + past participle。

The trees fell down and it

__________(result) from

the earthquake.

may/might/could have resulted

Change these Change these maybemaybe statements to statements to statements with statements with may havemay have, , might havemight have, , oror could havecould have..

Situation:Situation:

Tom dropped out of the course after Tom dropped out of the course after the first few weeks.the first few weeks. The following are The following are some guesses about why he did it.some guesses about why he did it.

Change these Change these maybemaybe statements to statements to statements with statements with may havemay have, , might havemight have, , oror could havecould have. .

1. Maybe he preferred an earlier class. 1. Maybe he preferred an earlier class. (could)(could)He could have preferred an earlier class.He could have preferred an earlier class.

2. Maybe the class was too hard for him. (may)2. Maybe the class was too hard for him. (may)The class may have been too hard for The class may have been too hard for him.him.

3. Maybe he found a full-time job. (might)3. Maybe he found a full-time job. (might)He might have found a full-time job.He might have found a full-time job.

4. Maybe he had a lot of problems at home. 4. Maybe he had a lot of problems at home. (could) (could)

He could have had a lot of problems at He could have had a lot of problems at home.home.

5. Maybe he left town. (might)5. Maybe he left town. (might)He might have left town.He might have left town.

Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice

1. He was late. He ______ have turned off the alarm clock and gone back to sleep again.

A. might B. would

C. can D. will

A

Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice

2.--Do you know where David is? I couldn’t find him anywhere.

--Well. He ______ have gone far--his coat’s still here.

A. could B. mustn’t

C. can’t D. wouldn’t

C

Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice

3.This cake is very sweet. You ______ a lot of sugar in it.

A. would put B. could have put

C. might put D. must have put

D

Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice

4.My English-Chinese dictionary has disappeared. Who ______ have taken it?

A. may B. must

C. could D. would

C

Multiple ChoiceMultiple Choice

5. My sister met him at the Grand Theatre yesterday afternoon, so he ______ your lecture.

A. couldn’t have attended

B. wouldn’t have attended

C. mustn’t have attended

D. might have attended

A

1. It (must/be) _______________ a very important religious site.

Write the past form of Write the past form of the modal in brackets.the modal in brackets.

Stonehenge, near Salisbury,Stonehenge, near Salisbury, England England

2. Originally, there (might/be) ____________ sixty large stones—many 4 to 7 metres high!

might have might have beenbeen

must have must have beenbeen

Write the past form of Write the past form of the modal in brackets.the modal in brackets.

Stonehenge, near Salisbury,Stonehenge, near Salisbury, England England

3. ‘Surely they (can’t/move) ______________ stones all the way from Wales!’ Some people think they did!’

4. ‘How (could/they/make) _______________ the stones stand upright?’ ‘They (must/use) _______________ hundreds of men.’

can’t have can’t have movedmoved

could they have could they have mademade

must have must have usedused

Write the past form of Write the past form of the modal in brackets.the modal in brackets.

Stonehenge, near Salisbury,Stonehenge, near Salisbury, England England

5. ‘(Could/the Romans/build) ____________ it? ‘No, they (could) _______________. It was built about 3100 BC, long before the Romans came to Britain.’

Could the Romans have Could the Romans have builtbuilt

they couldn’t have they couldn’t have (done)(done)

Look at the pictures and underline the correct Look at the pictures and underline the correct answer.answer.

1. The post 1. The post must have / might have / must have / might have / can’t havecan’t have arrived. arrived.

Look at the pictures and underline the correct Look at the pictures and underline the correct answer.answer.

2. She 2. She can havecan have / / can’t havecan’t have / / might havemight have been on holiday. been on holiday.

Look at the pictures and underline the correct Look at the pictures and underline the correct answer.answer.

3. He 3. He might not have / can’t have / might not have / can’t have / must havemust have forgotten his key. forgotten his key.

Look at the pictures and underline the correct Look at the pictures and underline the correct answer.answer.

4. She 4. She must have slept / must have slept / can’t have slept / might can’t have slept / might havehave slept slept last night.last night.

Certainty about the past

Possibility about the past

DicDickk can’t / can’t /

couldn’tcouldn’t

musmustt

DianDianaa

may / might / may / might / couldcouldmay not / might may not / might notnot

havehave

havhavee

passedpassed the the exam.exam.

been been murderedmurdered..

CouldCould Dick Dick have passedhave passed the the exam?exam?YesYes, he , he could / might have (done)could / might have (done). . (It’s (It’s possible)possible)NoNo, he , he can’t / couldn’t have (done)can’t / couldn’t have (done). . (certainly (certainly not)not)YesYes, he , he must have (done)must have (done). . (yes, certainly)(yes, certainly)

For For questions about possibility we usu. use questions about possibility we usu. use couldcould..

Complete the dialogue with a verb given in past Complete the dialogue with a verb given in past modal form.modal form.

A: Did Jane go to the party by bike? B: She _______________ (not go) by bike. Her bike is still there. A: So she _______________ (take) a bus. B: But she hates to be pushed on the crowded bus. A: Then she _____________ (go) by taxi. B: It _______________ (be) her choice though it would cost more money.

couldn’t/can’t have gone

must/might/may have taken

must have gone may/might/must have been

Translation:Translation:

1. Jack isn’t home yet.1. Jack isn’t home yet. ______________________ ________________________

（（他可能误了飞机）他可能误了飞机） ..

2.2. _______________________ _______________________ （他们不可能出去了）（他们不可能出去了） because the light’s on.because the light’s on.

3.3. 他当时肯定知道玛丽需要什么。他当时肯定知道玛丽需要什么。

He may/might have He may/might have missed the planemissed the plane

They couldn’t/can’t have They couldn’t/can’t have gone outgone out

He must have known what Mary He must have known what Mary wanted at that time.wanted at that time.

AssignmentAssignment

1. Review what you have learnt today.1. Review what you have learnt today.

2. Finish off Ex A & B on page 26 in your2. Finish off Ex A & B on page 26 in your

Workbook.Workbook.

Thank you !Thank you !